Contents

Step By Step

1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.2. Proceed to "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.3. Contact or visit the Hampshire Record Office, or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.4. You can visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any centers near you.

Indexes

Surviving wills and admons to the Court of the Peculiar of Michelmersh with Brashfield have been mostly indexed as follows:

Online Indexes

Here is an online index from 1500's-1857. This is a mostly complete listing of wills for this time period, and can be very helpful to those searching Hampshire probate records.

Printed and Published Indexes

Original handwritten indexes:

There is an index (manuscript) from 1593 to 1694 (only 13 wills survive) for Michelmersh with Brashfield are held at the Hampshire Record Office.

Microfilmed indexes at the Family History Library:

The indexes as listed in the above are also available in the collection of The Family History Library and they are on microfilm and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers worldwide.

The Family History Library has a microfilmed index (index Cards) to the probate records which pertains to each of Hampshire's peculiar probate courts--including Michelmersh with Brashfield for the years 1593 to 1694.

The Hampshire Record Office also has a type manuscript index covering the early Houghton wills; see the next section below.

Archive Records

Family History Library Records

Jurisdiction

The Court of the Peculiar of Michelmersh with Brashfield held jurisdiction over the parish of Michelmersh and its associated chapelry called Brashfield. These records are held at the Hampshire Record Office (see above). When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search both the Consistory (administrations and wills) Archdeaconry (wills only) Courts of Winchester as well as the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury.